Battery-cup



v 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. A. BRITTON.

BATTERY 0UP.

(N0 Model.)

No. 598,193. Patented Nov. 9,1897

IJV VEJVZ'OR Jmes J2. B77720.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2 J. A. BRITTON.

BATTERY 0UP.

No. 598,193. Patented Nov: 9,1897

[NV/1N1 UR James JZ. Ear/flow.

WI TJV ESSES UNITED STATES aren't @rrrca JAMES A. BRITTON, OF Pl-IILLIPSBURG, NEXV JERSEY.

BATTERY-CUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,193, dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed November 7, 1896. Serial No. 611,852. (No model.)

2'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. BRITTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Phillipsburg, in the county of arren and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Battery-Cups; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in primary batteries, and has more particular relation to gravity-batteries.

The invention consists of the combination, with a jar, copper, and zinc, of a cup for containing the zinc provided with a textile bottom, whereby the liquid in the jar may circulate between the copper and zinc.

The invention also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a battery embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged de-. tail perspective view of the said improved cup for containing the zinc, and Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detail perspective view of my improved form of copper.

A in the drawings represents the jar; B, the copper; O, the zinc, and D my improved zinc-containing cup. Said jar A is of any ordinary construction and is preferably of glass. The copper 13 comprises a number of leaves I), riveted together, as at b, and a plurality of supporting-legs 13 connected to the respective free ends of said strips, as well as the riveted ends. Said legs b are intended to hold the copper a slight distance above the bottom of the jar A, where it can better receive the aotionIof the liquid chemicals within the jar. Said copper is provided with the usual insulated contacting-wire 17 which passes up and out of the jar A. My said improved zinccup D, I preferably construct of glass, porcelain, hard rubber, or other material impervious to moisture or the action of chemicals.

This cup comprises a cylinder at, having an annular groove (1" formed in its side walls the action of the battery.

near its lower end and an annular flange d formed about its upper edge, said flange being provided with a notch 61 through which the wire b passes. The lower open end of said cylinder d is closed by a piece of muslin F or other textile material secured over the same by means of a cord or tape which binds the periphery of said cloth into the groove (1'. The ilange d is adapted to.rest upon the upper edge of the jar A, and thus support the cup in the proper position within the jar. The zinc G is of any standard make and is supported at a predetermined distance above the textile material F by a cross-piece 0, connected to its vertical stem and resting with its ends upon the flange (Z It will be observed from the foregoing description that the dirt dropping from the wasting zine c, as well as any foreign substance thatmay enter the mouth of the jar, are caught by the textile material F and prevented from descending to the bottom of the jar and becoming caked and hardened therein about the copper. "While the said cup B prevents any dirt or other foreign substance from descending to the bottom of the jar, it still permits the free circulation of the blue-stone or vitriol solution from the nine to the copper, and thus it does not interfere in anyway with The great advantage in thus preventing the accumulation of the dirt dropped from the wasting zinc in a hard cake in the bottom of the jar cannot be overestimated, as often it results in the break ing of the jars and the destruction of the copper in an attempt to remove the same.

When it becomes necessary to clean my improved battery, the zinc is simply lifted out and the cup removed and the dirt accumulated therein dumped out of the same and the cup and zinc again inserted in place. It thus takes only a few minutes to thoroughly clean a battery, whereas heretofore twenty or thirty minutes were required, and the result even then was anything but satisfactory. \Vhen the dirt and accumulations of the wasting zinc are permitted to sink to the bottom of the jar, they become incorporated into one solid mass with the copper, because of the deposition of the copper from the chemicals in the jar. This action ultimately results in the destruction of the perfect action of the copper, as the latter becomes socovered with dirt as to be rendered practically useless.

With my improvement the copper is fully protected from any accumulations of dirt within the jar by means of the cup D. To further provide for the protection of the cop'- per against any very fine sediment that may pass through the textile fabric F; the copper is supported away from the bottom of the jar in the manner before described.

By the employment of my invention the blue-stone or vitriol used in connection with this particular class of batteries is greatly eeonomized, as the same may be used over and over again after the battery has been cleaned, because the sediment and portions of the zinc wasting away donot'descend and mix with the blue-stone, and thus so impregnate it with dirt as to render it useless.

A battery constructed according to my invention will be in perfect working condition for a much greater period than is ordinarily the case, as the sediment and droppingsfrom the zinc are prevented from interfering With either the action of the copper or the purity of the vitriol compound Within the jar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. In -a gravitybattery, the combination with a jar, copper and zinc, of acup comprising a rigid cylinder open at the top and bet tom and provided with suitable supports adapted to rest upon the top of the jar, and a removable textile bottom secured over the lower end of said cylinder so as to permit the free passage of the liquids in the jar but pre- I vent the decomposed portions of the zinc from dropping to the bottom of the jar and enerusting the copper, substantially as de- 3 scribed.

2. In a gravity battery the combination with a jar, copper and zinc, of a cup provided with an open bottom covered by a textile material and having a supporting-flange about 1 its upper edge and adapted to rest upon the JAMES A. BRITTON.

lVitnesses:

H. J. MocK, CHARLES SLAWTER. 

